Tricycle for invalids.



No. 627,639. Patented June 27, 1899.

J. c. EAMES. TRIGYGLE FOR INVALIDS.

(Application fllgd. Aug. 18, 1898.)

(NuModeL) UNITED STATES PATENT "EEIcE.

JOHN EAMES, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

TRlCYC LE FOR lNVALl DS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 627,639, dated June 27, 1899. Application filed Au u t 18,1898. Serial No. 688,873. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN C. EAMES, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Tricycles for Invalids and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

ments consist more particularly in the construction of the frame and connected parts,

the means for driving, and the attachments therefor.

The frame is made of steel tubing, is rectangular in form, and comprises two horizontal and transverse bars A B, standing parallel with each other and connected by the bars 0, which extend between them, forming a rectangle.

The seat T is supported upon tubular posts D by means of corresponding posts D, secured to it and extending into these tubular posts, and the height of the seat may be adjusted by raising or lowering. It is secured at any point by the usual holding or set screws 10. When thus fixed, the rigidity of the superposed seat frame is added to that of the main frame to preventits being readily twisted out of shape.

The driving-shafts 12 are j ournaled in boxes These boxes are p F at each side of the seat. supported upon converging tubular bracerods E, the upper ends of which are united and carry the sleeves of the journals, and the lower ends diverge and are fixed, respectively, to the ends of the frame-bars A and B. This construction makes an exceedingly rigid brace and support, and the whole frame is so united that it is not liable to twist out of shape by reason of varying strains upon it.

F, have hand-cranks G, which project inwardly close to the seat, so that the rider can easily turn them.

, Upon the outer ,ends of the shafts are sprocket-wheels H, and from these sprocketwheels chains H. extend to and around corresponding sprock'et-wheels I upon the wheelhubs. The wheels Wbeing journaled to turn independently upon their bearing-shafts, it will be manifest that either wheel may be turned faster than the otherand thus act to steer the machine within certain limits.

When it is desired to turn the machine more abruptly and quickly, it is done by means of a lever P, fulcrumed to the frame within easy reach of the rider and having a connecting-rod R, extending backwardly to a lever-arm S, which projects from one side of the fork J of the steering-wheel W. This fork is normally retained centrally and is returned to that position when steering pressure is relieved by means of springs 0, connecting with the sides of the fork at one end and diverging from these points to the rear vertical posts D, to which the opposite ends are attached. The head of the steering-wheel socket 13 is connected with an inclined bracerod 14, secured to the rear bar B, and the ends of this rear bar are connected with the base of the socket by means of bars 15,which diverge from the socket'toward said ends.

Intermediate in the length of the springs O are fixed turnbuckles O, by which the tension upon either of the springs may be ale tered independently of the other, and thus any variation can be readily taken up, so that the steering-wheel will always travel normally in the proper direction.

In order to adjust the driving-chains and keep them atthe proper tension, any of the usual or well-known adjusting devices may be employed. I have here shown the journal-boxes F slidably mounted upon inclined slotted surfaces at the upper ends and junction of the converging supporting-bars E. These journal-boxes have screw-threaded shanks f, which pass through slots 6 in the inclined surface at the upper ends of the bars E, and these bolts are locked by nuts screwing upon them,- as shown at f, so that by moving the journal-boxes upon the inclined The journatshafts, supported in the boxes.

surfaces the chains may be slackened or ti ghtened, after which the nuts f are again tightened.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An improved tricycle consisting of a rectangular frame, a front axle, wheels upon each end thereof, a single rear wheel, vertical posts rising from each side of the center of one of the rear transverse frame-bars and also from each side of the center of the front axle, steering devices connected with the rear wheel and a lever at the front for operating the same, adjustable spring connections between the steering devices and the said posts of the rear transverse frame bar, a seat mounted upon said posts, independent crankaxles upon each side of said seat and independent sprockets and chains connecting the crank-axles with opposite ends of the front axle.

2. A tricycle-frame consisting of a rectanthe frame with its head and divergent bars connecting the ends of the rear bar with the base of the socket, tubular vertical seat-supporting posts extending upwardly from opposite sides of the center of the axle and rear bar and upwardly-converging bracing-bars having their lower ends connecting with the front and rear bars of the frame and the upper ends united to form a support for the crank-axle journal-boxes and independent crank-axles mounted in said boxes and power connections between the crank-axles and the front axle.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN C. EAMES. \Vitnesses: r

S. H. NOURSE, JEssrE C. BRODIE. 

